Gluten-Free + Vegan Recipe | Almond Apricot Coconut Bars

by Erin Griffin on July 15, 2014

These sticky, sweet, chewy, crunchy wonders are perfect for any summer party you’re going to. I designed the recipe to make 12-16 bars (in a 9×13 pan) so you’d have enough for a crowd. I made them, along with cream cheese brownies and chocolate peanut butter fudge squares, for a baby shower and they were a huge hit. My dear friend Ivy (whom said shower was for) has a chocolate-loving, carnivore father who proclaimed they were his favorite (after carefully taste-testing all three options). You can easily use any jam or preserve you’d like if apricots aren’t your thing. And you can mix pecans, walnuts, or any other nut into the coconut topping (or leave out nuts all together). These aren’t as precious as a lot of baked goods (meaning, they’re flexible and hard to screw up). So, experiment and enjoy!

Ingredients:

Oil to grease casserole baking dish

5 cups almond meal/flour (which is what comes in a one-pound bag, if you’re using store bought)

1/2 cup neutral-tasting oil (like grape seed or canola)

1/2 cup agave

1 t salt

2 t baking soda

1 1/2 – 2 cups of apricot preserves

2 cups sweetened coconut flakes

1 cup chopped pecans (or other nuts or chocolate chips or raisins)

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

In a food processor, place the almond flour, oil, agave, salt, and baking soda and pulse until combined and pulling away from the sides, like dough.

Grease a glass, 9″x13″ casserole and press in the almond flour crust with lightly oiled fingers.

Bake the crust on the center rack for 8-10 minutes (until fragrant, but not browning).

Let the crust cool to room temperature and then spread the apricot preserves all over the top with a flexible spatula.

Top with coconut and nut mixture and bake again for 15-20 minutes, until crust and coconut are starting to brown.

Let cool to room temperature before cutting and serving.

Store at room temperature, in a tightly-sealed container for up to three days.

About Erin Griffin

Teaching and cooking are written in my DNA (thanks mom and dad). I finally relinquished myself to that fact in my early 30s and haven’t looked back. I read nutrition books for fun (like the science-y ones). I love mashing veggies for my 9-month-old while we sing along to 80s pop. And in my spare time I run The Yummy Kind, offering recipes, cooking classes, and nutrition education to anyone who wants to listen. You can find more information, and more of my recipes, at www.theyummykind.com.

What does vegan mean?

vegan |ˈvēgən|, noun: a person who does not eat or use animal products.
Some choose this lifestyle for health reasons, many for ethical purposes or animal welfare and others for religious or environmental causes. While this only touches the surface and there is a long list of reasons for veganism, we believe no motive is greater than another. Whether you think veganism is ridiculous, are testing the water or just looking for other people with a similar lifestyle to yours, we're happy to have you here & hope to leave you more inspired than when you came!

Contact Vegan Housewives

Would you like to see your product reviewed on Vegan Housewives? We would love to test it out & give our readers a 100% un-biased opinion! All products must be cruelty-free (tested on humans only) & Vegan Housewives reserves the rights to only feature products that fit our values & mission. For more information on how to participate, feel free to contact us via our contact form at the top of the site or email us at:
TheLadies(AT)VeganHousewives(DOT)com

Disclaimer

Vegan Housewives is a lifestyle blog where we express our own personal opinions, ideas and experiences. We are in no way nutritionists or doctors. While veganism has been believed to improve health, those with medical conditions considering any sort of dietary change should consult a physician. All content is owned by Vegan Housewives and any information borrowed for personal use should be linked back to the source.